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About Ireland's West Coast: 3-Day Drive to Cliffs of Moher, Galway and Connemara

From impressive sea cliffs and mountains to ancient monasteries and castles, explore the highlights of Ireland’s dramatic West Coast on a 3-day driving tour that includes accommodation in Galway. Begin each day with a hearty breakfast before you wind your way through peat bogs, sample whiskey from one of the oldest legal distilleries in the world, walk along the Cliffs of Moher, and enjoy the jovial atmosphere of traditional pubs. Along with guided sightseeing, you’ll have time each day to discover the authentic spirit of Ireland at your leisure.

Day 1 (B):Begin your 3-day exploration of Ireland’s stunning West Coast in central Dublin, where you’ll board an air-conditioned mini-coach and set out on your journey. Keep your eyes glued on the passing scenery, which includes the bucolic farmland and peat bogs in Kildare and Offally counties, before you make your first stop at Locke’s Distillery, reputedly the oldest legal distillery in the world. Sample the whiskey (own expense) in 18th-century buildings before continuing to the Shannon River.

Here you can soak up history at the early Christian site of Clonmacnoise, where churches, stone crosses and round towers still stand. Get a feel for the welcoming spirit of the West Coast’s small villages during an afternoon stop at a traditional pub—where you can purchase delectable Irish fare—and then make your way to Galway, which will be your home for the next two nights. The seaside town houses an array of pubs and restaurants where you can finish your day with drinks and food (own expense).

Day 2 (B):After filling up with a hearty breakfast, hop back in the mini-coach and explore the unspoiled beauty of Connemara. You’ll travel inland through Maam Valley to Cong. Located on the shore of Lough Corrib, the village is where the classic film The Quiet Man was filmed. Find costumes and other memorabilia from the award-winning movie at the Quiet Man Museum, and enjoy a visit to Cong Abbey. Continue to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Clifden, the Sky Road and the Twelve Bens of Connemara. Along the way, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore on foot and take photos. In the evening you’ll return back to Galway for leisure time and another night in the bustling city, where you can purchase filling fare for dinner.

Overnight: Same as above

Day 3 (B):Fuel up for your final day with breakfast before riding a short distance along the coast to Burren. The landscape charms with limestone pavements, windswept hillsides, ancient stone monuments and rare flora. Stop in a scenic village for lunch (own expense), and then head to the jaw-dropping Cliffs of Moher. Take a light walk along the cliff-top trails and watch seabirds soar over the cliffs' highest point, a 700-foot (213-meter) drop into the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Stop into an award-winning environmental exhibition before parting from the stunning natural beauty of West Ireland and returning to central Dublin.